Rail switch



O. P. SMITH RAIL SWITCH July 31, 1923- Filed July 5, 1922 @wzm $3 QDMKM w 93) mm Patented July 31, 1923.

UNITED STATES OWEN SMITH, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

1 j RAIL SWITCH.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OWEN P. SMITI-L'B. citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to switches for railroads and the like, and its object is to replace the usual frog and guard rail with a short section of rail pivoted at one end, and adapted to be moved for engagement with either the main line rail, or the branch line rail as desired.

As will be seen in the description, this provides a much more simple construction, less expensive, less likely to get out of order, and less subject to wear. At the same time it is easily and quickly replaced or repaired in case of necessity.

WVith the above and other objects in view,

which are more particularly set forth in the accompanying specification, my invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as more fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a main and branch rail, with my special switch adapted for use therewith.

Figure 2 is a side elevation, showing the relative position of the parts in Figure 1.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, I have shown a single rail joint, in which I have shown the main line rail 1, having the outside. rail 2 parallel therewith, The branch line rail is shown at 3, while the parallel rail to said branch line rail is omitted as it has no parts entering into my invention.

At the point desired for the switch from the main line to the branch line, a short sec tion is cut out of the main line rail, and also out of the branch line rail, as shown between the ends 4, and 5, and 4 and 6 respectively. Underneath this opening I have provided an iron plate, as 7 which is fastened to the ties 8 by means of spikes or other suitable means to retain it in place underneath the opening in the rails. A radial plate, as 9, is mounted in recess in the base of the short section of rail 10 and welded thereto, and

. pivot bolt Application filed July 5, 1922. Serial No. 572,983.

adapted to move backward and forward upon the plate 7 in an arc conforming to its curvature, between theguides 11, 12, 13, and 14, which are bolted to the plate 7 on either side of the plate 9, and adjacent the outer' edges of the line of the main and branch rails as shown. These guides 11, 12, 13 and 14, also act as stops tolimitthemovement of the plate 9, and the rail section 10 mounted thereon, when said plate and rail are moved from side to side as hereinafter described. At 15 I have attached to the underside of the plate 7 a suitable plate as shown,

to furnish a boss, or additional bearing support for the pivot bolt 16, which is welded into an opening in the end of the rail section 10 as shown in the dotted lines. This passes downward through an opening in the plate 7 and through the boss plate 15, and is held in place by the nut 16 on the threaded lower extremity thereof, the openings in the plates 7 and 15 providing a bearing upon which the rail section 10 may rotate as hereinafter described. Where the main line'rail' and branch rails join at 17, they are permanently welded, and preferably attached to the bed plate 7 by means of suitable rivets as 18, to hold them against displacement in use. the rails 1 and 3 are adjacent to the rail section 10, the end is formed on the curve "of an are as shown, and the adjacent end oftlle Where the joined ends of rail section 10 is also curved to provide a 7 close operating joint as the said rail section is rotated in operation as hereinafter described. At 18 I have shown a suitable switch rod, pivotally attached to the radial plate 9, and connecting it with the bell crank 19. A suitable switch rod 20 is connected to the other end of the bell crank, and extends to any suitable means for operating said bell crank, and radial plate in any usual way common in movement of switches.

By this construction, it will be seen, when the rail section 10 is in the position shown in Figure 1, any cars passing along the. branch rai 3:,

that j I and cars passin over said section Will pass onto the branch ine rails instead of the main line as before the rail section had been thrown over toengage with said branch line.

By this means, it will be apparent, that I have provided a very simple and efficient means of constructing a switch, and one which will be less likely to get out of order, or cause trouble or accidents than those now in general use. It will also bev seen that there is no dangerous frog, to catch the train-' I claim and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is the following In a railway switch, the combination of,

main line and branch line rails, a pivoted sect on lnterposed at the unction of the rails and movable into alignment with either the main or branch line rails, a plate beneath tracks supporting the ends of the rails, guides on the plate at opposite sides of the rails, and an arcuate plate secured to the.

base of the pivoted section and slidable with in the guides, the said guides acting'a's stops to insure proper alignment of the pivoted section With the rails.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this le'lth day of June, 1922.

OWEN P. SMITH. Witnesses:

CHESTER W. BROWN, RICHARD'A. GREEN. 

